The Honey Hunters

Honey Hunters by Francesca Martin, 1992.


Martin retells this traditional African tale that explains why various animals came to be enemies. All the beasts love honey. So does the boy. Luckily, they have the little honey guide to lead them to the proper tree. “Che, che! Cheka, cheka, che!” he says. “If you want honey, follow me.” The group finds a lovely honeycomb. But can they share it?

The book’s handsome, gentle pictures enhance the story. The first illustration is a Peaceable Kingdom of animals. Lion and leopard cubs converse with antelope and zebra foal under the spreading branches of the honey tree. The air is filled with butterflies and bees and the grass is dotted with flowers. The other illustrations follow suit, each teeming with life. Pale golden borders accented with blues, greens, pink and orange frame the pictures. This is a lovely book to share.